Chapter 4A Message That Changed Everything

Theo frowned. "What are you talking about? Just because I asked you to draw a picture?"

I picked up the resignation statement on the table and handed it to him.

I said, "Sign it. Once you do, you can be with Kate without any worries."

He retorted, "When did I say I wanted to be with Kate? We're just work partners. Stop being unreasonable."

Theo snatched the statement, crumpling it into a ball and throwing it to the ground.

He huffed, "Can you grow up a little and stop overthinking everything? Kate has been a huge help in promoting our art exhibition. You should understand that."

I looked at him, feeling nothing but cold sorrow.

I countered, "Understand? Should I understand you attending events with her and giving her all the care that was supposed to be mine? I gave up my creative work for our exhibition, and this is how you treat me."

Theo averted his gaze.

His phone beeped with a text message. He glanced at it, his expression shifting.

He said, "I have something to do. We'll talk about this later."

With that, he hurried out.

As the door closed, it felt like my heart closed too.

I opened WhatsApp and sent a message to the gallery owner.

[Mr. Ross, I'm sorry, but I can't continue with the exhibition preparation. Sorry for the trouble.]

After handling that, I went home, lay on my bed, and let silent tears fall.

Just then, the Messenger notification sounded.

[Are you really Natasha, the Natasha from the future?]

I sat up, staring at the computer screen.

[Yes.]

He began to type: [In the future, do I really hurt you?]

I could feel his pain and disbelief.

[Yes.]

He typed again: [I'm sorry.]

Tears streamed down my face.

I: [No need to apologize. You haven't done anything wrong yet.]

Theo: [Can you tell me what I did? Or is there anything I can do for you?]

I stared at the screen, a thought forming.

I wondered if the 20-year-old Theo could change everything.

I remembered the accident that caused me to lose my unborn child, leaving me unable to have children.

With trembling fingers, I typed: [There is.]

[Stay away from me. Don't appear in my life again.]